Jun 1 With Miranda, Skriniar and De Vrij, Spalletti could use three-man defense more next season

Luciano Spalletti has been very clear with his directors: Joao Miranda must be kept because the coach intends to utilize him again next season. This will has also been extended to Milan Skriniar, Stefan De Vrij and Andrea Ranocchia (who is working on a new contract). This central defense of Inter was made last year and for the most part performed very well. So, this could be a good starting point for next season because it will allow Spalletti to work concretely on a three-man defense.

To be developed - The idea was mentioned at one point last season but it was never proposed with continuity. Instead, with the new season coming up, it will be a theme to be developed with more conviction because changing the formation will allow Spalletti to have more overall options. So let’s start with a three-man defense with De Vrij, Skriniar and Miranda, the team could develop in a natural 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-3 depending on the presence of a trequartista (Rafinha? Nainggolan?) who will support the duo of Martinez and Icardi. Surely a fascinating option even if that it is obvious to find the right balance to not leave the defensive end exclusively to those three central defenders. Inter will need two massive motors on the wings (D’Ambrosio and Asamoah are already at the club, or even Candreva on the right), and two skillful and quick midfielders in playing with or without the ball.

Back four - That is a lot of work to be done although Stefan De Vrij is very familiar with it because Lazio played mostly with the three-man defense last season. Skriniar instead will have to get used to it because he is inhabited with a four-man defense but the speed of learning of the Slovakian defender is remarkable. So about a four-man defense. With the good central defenders that Inter already have, it is easy to predict positive performances in view of extra mid-week matches in the Champions League. There will be more choices and Spalletti will be able to assess the best pairing among the four in the team. Without forgetting that a fifth will play in Inter Primavera with a certain constancy (Bastoni? Battella?). Miranda will turn 34 on September 7th and after the World Cup, he will go on vacation. In short, with preparation that starts a bit later than his teammates, it is also reasonable to expect he will be slowly and cautiously integrated. There is a lot of curiosity to see the duo of Stefan De Vrij and Skriniar at work, potentially one of the best defensive pairs on the world. Merits go to those at Inter who worked very quickly to make this happen. The final word will be on the field.